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List: Free turkey dinners, groceries in the Austin area for Thanksgiving

This list also includes ways you can help the community by volunteering to hand out meals or donating.

AUSTIN, Texas — Tis the season of giving and receiving.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if you'd like to receive a free meal or lend a helping hand, here's a list of local events giving out meals and groceries in the Austin area. There are various ways you can help out by volunteering to hand out meals and groceries as well as donating online. 

This list is in order of when the events will take place.

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Givens Thanksgiving Dinner & Food Giveaway

You can receive bags of groceries through walk-ups.
When: Thursday, Nov. 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Givens Recreation Park at 3811 E. 12th St.

Emergency Relief Food Distribution

The Central Texas Food Bank is continuing to give out free meal kits via drive-thru. Below are the events it has left this month.

Travis County Expo Center
When: Thursday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: 7311 Decker Lane

Del Valle High School
When: Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: 5201 Ross Road in Del Valle, Texas

Toney Burger Stadium
When: Monday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: 3200 Jones Road

LBJ High School Thanksgiving Meal and Harvest Fest

You can pick up meals via drive-thru.
When: Thursday, Nov. 19, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Where: 7309 Lazy Creek Drive 

Hands For Hope

More than 1,700 families will be able to receive a holiday meal thanks to El Buen Samaritano. You can make a donation online here or sign up to volunteer on distribution day.
When: Saturday, Nov. 21, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: 7000 Woodhue Drive

Thanksgiving Drive-Thru Dinner

Food baskets filled with turkey, pie and trimmings will be given out while supplies last.
When: Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 to 11 a.m.
Where: Dove Springs Recreation Center at 5801 Ainez Drive

A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center Thanksgiving Dinner

Meal boxes will be given out through the drive-thru.
When: Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center at 2100 E. Third St.

Mobile Loaves and Fishes Pre-Thanksgiving Meal

You can pick up a meal in a to-go container and eat it off-site.
When: Monday, Nov. 23, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Frist Baptist Church of Austin at 901 Trinity St.

Mission Possible Thanksgiving

Those experiencing homelessness may pick up a Thanksgiving meal at this annual event. If you'd like to help, consider making a donation for a meal or sleeping bag online here.
When: Sunday, Nov. 22, at 10 a.m.
Where: Under Interstate Highway 35 at Seventh St.

Bethany United Methodist Church Thanksgiving Meals Delivery

About 80 volunteers are needed to help deliver meals to one or two of the families who will be receiving the meals. You can sign up to deliver meals online here. To learn more, call Kris Cutler at 512-258-6017.
When: Sunday, Nov. 22, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Bethany United Methodist Church at 10010 Anderson Mill Road

Operation Turkey Austin

Organizers of this annual event are aiming to hand out 75,000 Thanksgiving meals this year. If you'd like to request a meal, you can do so online here before Nov. 20. You can also sign up to volunteer or make a donation.
When: Thursday, Nov. 26, between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Throughout Austin

Operation Turkey San Marcos

Organizer Jesse Ruiz said they haven't received as many donations this year because of the pandemic. He said the need for a hot meal has only become stronger. Donations can go a long way. $25 can feed 10 people, and $100 can feed 40 people. You can donate online here or volunteer.

"We don't want people to think we forgot about them. There's a lot of people who were not only furloughed but probably lost their jobs," Ruiz said. "They were already struggling pre-COVID and this happens. You can imagine the amount of stress that causes to a family."

Feast of Giving

You can pick up meals and canned goods via drive-thru only.
When: Thursday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: St. Louis Catholic Church at 7601 Burnet Road

Principe De Paz Thanksgiving Meal

Meals will be handed out via drive-thru or walk-up.
When: Thursday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Principe De Paz at 1204 Payton Gin Road

Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center Thanksgiving Meal

Those experiencing homelessness will be able to receive a meal outside. You can also volunteer to set up or clean and donate.
When: Thursday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
When: Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center at 4430 Menchaca Raod

Meals on Wheels Meal Delivery

Thousands of homebound seniors will receive frozen holiday dinners thanks to a financial gift from H-E-B to Meals on Wheels of Central Texas. The turkey dinner with sides and a cookie will be included in a two-week supply of lunches that volunteers will deliver to nearly 2,700 seniors across Austin, Round Rock and Pflugerville.

When: Friday, Nov. 20, starting at 9 a.m.

Where: Throughout Central Texas

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